Time to get under the boat

On Saturday, we completed the wiring changes we wanted to make on the bridge and that involved mainly installing a new port ignition switch. The one on the starboard side came out fairly easily last weekend but the port side switch had no intention of going gently. The screws holding the wires to the terminals on the back of the switch were welded in place by age so we had to cut them off, put new compression lugs on the old wires and attach them to the new switch. Doing this was quite comfortable, since we were lying on our back with a seat cushion for a pillow and nearly every tool we owned right next to us.  Here are the two new switches installed: first the port side and then the starboard.

We tested the radar, the chart plotter and the VHF marine radio and everything worked as expected. Cross the bridge wiring off the list.  Now it was time to get down under the boat.

The bottom looks really good and it should after all the work we put into it last winter. We'll touch up the black bottom paint in a few small spots but other than that, we need to take the marine growth off the rudders and props.  There's not a lot on there and I'm not sure that we spent much time on them last winter.  There were some barnacles and some crazy little worms or whatever they are.  They came off with some work using an electric drill and a wire brush.

 

The water intakes for the engines also had a few barnacles but they came off with a little effort.

We also found that that the cutlass bearings were nice and tight. Nice to know that we won't have to deal with that this year.

On Sunday, our first order of business was to pick up the inflatable and slide it back down over the stern and into its davits.  We were dreading this because this thing is heavy and difficult to move around.  However, with Frances on one end and Bill on the other, it went over the stern railing and slid down close to the davits without too much trouble.  Bill got down on the ground behind the boat and lifted the inflatable with his head and it clicked into the davits.

Now we had room to open the engine hatches and get the things done down there that are on our list

This is the first weekend that the marina has water turned on and suspecting that, we brought a long hose with us. Turns out, we didn't need it as we were able to borrow hose from a couple with on nice 33-ft. Egg Harbor that is stored right in front of us.  We filled our fresh water tank and pushed out most of the potable antifreeze with the DC pump and all faucets on at the same time.

With water in the tank, it was time to test the new head.  We got out the camera and Frances planted herself on the seat and hit the "flush button."  Smiles all around as the water swirled into the head and down into the new holding tank.

The deck fitting that enables us to pump out the new holding tank is still an issue.  Working together, we pried up the old deck fitting as far as it would go but not far enough to disconnect it and replace it with a new gasket-ed deck fitting.  We pried and examined it for a while and came up with a method to remove it that will take a few more tools and a little more time.  Often, it's great to have another set of eyes and another opinion when something really difficult comes up. We'll get it done even if it does take some extra work. We both came up with some ideas on how to proceed.  As Frances always says, "80% preparation and 20% execution"...we will get this to work, together.  This is the most difficult task we have been faced with.  Stay tuned!

Four weeks to launch. We need to pick up the pace a little.